3/4" Pittsburg Torque Wrench for lug nuts?

[DugT]

I'm considering getting a Harbor Freight 3/4" Pittsburg Torque Wrench for lug nuts and also my 162 ft lb caliper bolts. Why not? Is its 26" length too long? Is its 24 tooth ratchet too crude?

I like that it is 26" long which is good for leverage. It is beefy, 50 lbs to 300 lbs so it shouldn't break under my modest use. If it does break it has a lifetime warranty.

My Matco 10-100 ft lb 3/8" torque wrench's settings lock has failed. I can still use the wrench but I need a bigger wrench for lug nuts and my brake calipers (162 ft lbs.) A 1/2" wrench is usually used for these applications but the HF 3/4" is only $65 with the coupon so why not go big?

By the way, I believe the HF wrench is made by Tekton because functionally it looks identical. I can't post links yet but these are the wrenches.

HF PITTSBURGH 3/4 In. Drive Click Type Torque Wrench

TEKTON 3/4 Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench (50-300 ft.-lb.) | 24350

 

[Mr_B]

Tekton don't make anything .
they probably just buying from same OEM manufacturer

 

[Rabid Badger]

I'd rather have this 1/2 Husky. Nearly as long, sockets will be cheaper and the sliding collar is much more reliable than a locking screw.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-50-ft-lbs-to-250-ft-lbs-1-2-in-Drive-Torque-Wrench-H2DTWA/205914009

 

[DugT]

One of the reasons I like the Tekton style wrench because it is I also like that it is 3/4" and should be really strong. I would get a 3/4" to 1/2" adapter for it so I could use my 1/2" sockets. The HF Tekton style 3/4" costs $64 vs $90 for the smaller 1/2" Husky and similar Kobalt wrenches.

I also like that there is a good drawing of its parts of the Tekton and it is easily serviced and calibrated. My Matco torque wrench was difficult to fix so I am sensitive to that. Maybe the Husky and Kobalt styles are easy too.

I should drive Lowes and HD and HF an try take the different wrenches for a bit of a test drive.

 

[SeisMec]

The 1/2" Husky that Rabid Badger linked to claims +-3% accuracy in the upper 80% of scale.
The 3/4" Pittsburgh claims +-4%

For those caliper bolts:

• Husky promises 162 ft lbs +-4.9 ft lbs[/INDENT]
• Pittsburgh promises 162 ft lbs +- 6.5 ft lbs.

The 3/4" Pitts. is 26-1/4 inches long. The 1/2 Husky is 24 inches. That extra 2 inches isn't going to add a ton of leverage, but it could easily be enough to become an obstruction.

 

[Rabid Badger]

It's a torque wrench, it only has to be strong enough to withstand it's maximum torque rating. The uses you listed shouldn't require more than 250 lb/ft.

Adapters, on the other hand, are notoriously weak.

 

[DugT]

Re: 3/4" Pittsburgh Torque Wrench for lug nuts?

Thanks for the input!

For my use, I think accuracy isn't as important as consistancy. For example, when I torque a wheel to 100 ft lbs, I don't care if all the nuts end up at 95 or 105 lbs. The wheels won't fall off at 95 lbs and the nuts won't break at 105 ft lbs. My main concern is warping a rotor. If some nuts are 95 and some are 105, a rotor could warp. I don't think a spec of 3% or 4% would make much difference as long as they were consistently off. Based on what I have seen from tests, this won't be a problem as long as I use good technique.

I totally agree that I don't need a 3/4" wrench yet but what's the harm and its cheap? I will have to use a 3/4 to 1/2" reducer but I'd get an impact reducer for extra durability. I use a breaker bar or an impact wrench with no adapter for removing fasteners.

In spite of all of that, the Husky wrench is a very good choice and I love the Lifetime, no questions asked warranty. Its main competition is the HF Icon with the same warranty. I prefer the Icons metal handle and 92 teeth and it is the same price of $90. At that price I would be tempted to pay another $55 and get a Precision Instruments dual beam wrench.

The Pittsburgh 3/4" still seems like a good candidate for only $65. It is rated at 4% and the spring shouldn't need much recalibration with my light use.

The extra 2 inches length of the Pittsburgh would probably never be a problem but the leverage would be nice. I only plan to do lug nuts and caliper bolts with the wrench and there is enough room for the Pittsburgs 26" length. If I end up working in a tighter spot I have a 3/8" 100 ft lb 18" Matco torque wrench. Supposedly the Pittsburgh also has a lifetime warranty. If HF renegs on the warranty, the wrench is real easy to take apart and put back together, unlike the Husky style wrecnh. I don't think I could break a 3/4" torque wrench but some people break 1/2" wrenches.

Within the next few days I will visit a few hardware stores and try to get a touchy feely experience with these wrenches and hopefully make a decision.

Thanks again for the input.

 

[DugT]

Thanks to everyone who tried to talk me out of getting a 3/4" torque wrench. 1/2" is big enough. I was driven to 3/4" because it was unbreakable for my applications and it was easy to fix. Now I see the 1/2" is unbreakable for my applications and, because of the Lifetime warranty, I won't have to fix it if it breaks. I can just get it replaced free.

I just bought an Harbor Freight Icon 1/2" torque wrench. It is big enough, solid enough and it has a nice case with semi metal hinges and metal clasps. Its ratchet has 90 teeth and I like the grippy metal handle. It has a lifetime warranty.

One of the reasons I was reluctant to buy this pull down lock style of wrench (like Husky, Kobalt and Icon) is it looked awkward to pull down the lock ring while twisting the handle, as I had seen in YouTube videos. That is the wrong way to do it. Instead, hold down the ring while spinning the upper shaft or head ad keep holding the ring down until the setting is correct. Then release the lock ring. That way is much faster and easier. I almost bought a Precision Instruments Twin Beam because adjusting it is so fast and easy. If I used a torque wrench daily or even weekly that would be ideal but I only use a torque wrench quarterly.

 

[skulldrinker]

Why do you need 3/4. This 1/2 goes up to 250. Only cost 160 on amazon. Equal quality to snap on.

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